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2011 BUDGET ADDRESS
MAYOR MICHAEL A. NUTTER
THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2011
Council President Verna, Majority Leader Tasco, Majority Whip Clarke, Minority Leader O'Neill, Minority Whip Rizzo, members of Council, distinguished guests, my fellow Philadelphians.
Let me begin paying tribute to a great public servant who has served the people of Philadelphia for more than half a century...Council President Anna C. Verna.
One of my proudest moments as a member of City Council - Madame President - was to cast my vote for the first female President of City Council in the history of Philadelphia.
Madame President you have given a lifetime of service to the people of the 2nd District and to this entire city, and for that we say thank you.
I would also like to recognize the three other members of this body who will be retiring this year.
Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, and Councilman Jack Kelly.
Let us thank these three dedicated and passionate public servants.
We gather at a time of great opportunity and great threat.
At a time of hope and caution.
A time when we've won hard-fought stability, but tremendous uncertainty still lies ahead.
And though I am fully aware of further challenges in the near future, we will not compromise on our goals, we will not adjust our vision, and we will not relent for one second in our pursuit of the 21st Century Philadelphia that we all know we can be.
On January 7, 2008 - when we all took the oath of office - I promised the people of Philadelphia that we would be a safer city, a smarter city, a healthier, greener city and that my administration would crack down on corruption, reform government, and truly serve all of our citizens.
I know what I was elected to do.
And since Day One - working in partnership with this City Council - we have remained focused on these shared goals, moving this city forward and beginning to realize our common vision for a Philadelphia that...
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